Design Process - Props, Models, Maqettes and backgrounds
A. the Pre Animation design Process begins by using the animatic as a guide.
For small homemade or low budget animations the work below may be shortened or skipped altogether. On professional jobs it is mandatory, but on lower budget productions it may be done by one or just a few people.
B. Character design - This involves designing model sheets for important subjects. These model sheets will show how a subject looks from a variety of angles with a variety of poses and expressions.
This provides consistent designs even if multiple animators are used. Artists will determine the major poses for the subject in a scene and draw the pose.
C. Models-The french word for scale model is maquette. These models are made for the characters in an animation and also could be made for any subject that required 3d views, including buildings, vehicles, interiors etc. These give the animator a 3d look at the subject from any position.
D. Background artists design settings and locations for the project. Background artists help determine the view angles, camera movement ideas, and light and shading for the different scenes.
E. Color artists determine the style and colors to be used from scene to scene. This becomes very important to convey the mood of the script. Light and airy colors for happy or playful scenes and dark and forboding colors for spooky, sad or scary scenes are usually used.
F. The animators will use all of the predesign work to produce the final production.
